Injury Rehab and Cinnamon Butterscotch Ice Cream

I started my Boston training with a hamstring injury.  I kept running but eventually the pain forced me to take a week off. During that week, I did some research on recovering from hamstring strains.  The most helpful article I found was by Derek M. Hansen “Hamstring Rehabilitation and Running Mechanics Part 1”.  The article discusses the process Hansen went through to get one athlete back into competition within four weeks of injuring himself.  Stretching, active rehabilitation, and massage therapy were all used. 

Based on that article and what I had available to me at home, I decided to heal that frustrating hamstring and stop complaining  about it.  Before reading the article, I was stretching before and after exercise, icing when finishing a run, and using The Stick. When the icing didn’t work, I applied heat.  Maybe everything was working a little bit to help my problem but it wasn’t until I started using the following massager that I began to have virtually pain free runs.

You might say “I have one of those!” or “I’ve seen those in Wal-Greens (K-Mart, Rite Aide…etc.)”.  It’s an inexpensive neck massager but fits perfectly around my hamstring.  It offers vibration together with gentle kneading and with heat.  I used it every night for 2 weeks, 20 minute sessions, while relaxing on the couch.  

I’m not sure if I should have rested more than I did when I hurt the leg months ago, but this time I was lucky.  I’m not saying that when I push the envelope it doesn’t shoot me whispers of pain, but at least I’m able to run longer, faster, and in comfort. 

Now if I could only figure out what to do about that toe????!!!!

ICE CREAM?!  But it’s so COLD???!!!

Brrrr….it’s cold outside but that didn’t matter. The urge to use my NEW Cuisinart Ice Cream maker over took the bitter cold weather outside. 

I turned up the heat at went at it, making a creamy smooth creation that was more satisfying than Ben and Jerry’s.

• Makes 4 cups

• 1 cup Non Fat Buttermilk
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2/3 cup butterscotch pieces (Hershey’s are pretty good)

Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl and whip with a hand whisk to dissolve the sugar slightly.  Put in the fridge while you grab the Cuisinart freezer bowl out of the freezer and insert it into the center base.

Put the paddle in the freezer bowl then put the clear lid on top. 

Get the ingredients from the fridge and pour into the freezer bowl through the opening in the top of the clear plastic cover.  Turn the switch to ON and let it turn for 20 minutes.  Store in the freezer but enjoy a bowl or two first!  YUM-O!

As if the ice cream didn’t have tons of flavor already, I was feeling fruity and along with my fruity feeling I had to have a little whipped cream.

Then of course I felt the need for some butterscotch sauce.

Is it obvious YET that I had a sweet tooth melt down?!!!

Why did all this happen?

I was home alone and got bored. Didn’t want to bake or cook and didn’t want to sit and read.  So I made and ATE ice cream.  What a great way to spend the day 

Do you have a great recipe I can try for homemade ice cream?